Argentina 2 Álvarez 12′ Messi 76′ Slovenia 0 FT 90 +4 HT 1-0

Argentina's players posed behind a banner supporting their country's claims to the Falkland Islands before a World Cup warm-up in Buenos Aries.

The team displayed a message to support an on-going campaign to claim sovereignty of the islands, a British Overseas Territory.
Argentina then beat Slovenia 2-0 with goals from Ricardo Alvarez and substitute Lionel Messi.
They start their Group F campaign against Bosnia-Herzegovina on 15 June.

Lionel Messi (left), Angel Di Maria (centre) and Sergio Aguero celebrate Argentina's second goal

Coach Alex Sabella chose not to risk Messi, Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain or Real Madrid's Angel Di Maria from the start of their final friendly before the finals in Brazil.

But Argentina still went ahead in the 11th minute when Inter Milan midfielder Alvarez scored with a powerful run and shot.
Sabella made changes in the second half and Di Maria and Aguero combined for Messi to add the second when converting Aguero's headed pass with a left-foot finish with 15 minutes to go.
"We have a great group and team," said Messi. "A World Cup is very tough and we will have to fight a lot for it.
"We arrive with the right age, with most of us playing in the best leagues of Europe for years. Winning it is our target, but it will be very hard."
Argentina also face Iran and Nigeria in their qualifying group.

Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (12)

Argentina

• 01 Romero
• 08 Pérez
• 16 Rojo
• 23 Basanta
• 14 Mascherano Booked (Mammana - 77' )
• 17 Fernández
• 13 Fernández (Gago - 58' Booked )
• 06 Biglia (Campagnaro - 14' )
• 22 Lavezzi (Messi - 58' )
• 19 Álvarez (Di María - 57' )
• 11 Rodríguez (Agüero - 58' )

Substitutes

• 03 Campagnaro
• 05 Gago
• 07 Di María
• 10 Messi
• 12 Orión
• 20 Agüero
• 21 Andujar
• 24 Mammana

Slovenia

• 12 Belec
• 02 Brecko
• 13 Jokic
• 20 Stevanovic Booked (Mertelj - 82' )
• 06 Ilic (Lazarevic - 45' )
• 05 Cesar (Balazic - 88' )
• 18 Rotman Booked
• 08 Kurtic
• 11 Novakovic (Firer - 88' )
• 19 Ilicic (Pecnik - 45' )
• 17 Kirm Booked (Samardzic - 45' )

Substitutes

• 03 Samardzic
• 04 Balazic
• 07 Pecnik
• 10 Firer
• 14 Lazarevic
• 15 Struna
• 16 Oblak
• 22 Mertelj
• 23 Janza

Ref: Martín Vázquez

Match Stats

Shots

14 5

On target

7 3

Corners

1 2

Fouls

13 16

Live Text Commentary

Full time

Full Time Match ends, Argentina 2, Slovenia 0.

90:00 +3:50 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Argentina 2, Slovenia 0.

90:00 +3:45 Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left from a direct free kick.
90:00 +2:55 Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90:00 +2:55 Foul by Rajko Rotman (Slovenia).
90:00 +0:50 Attempt missed. Jasmin Kurtic (Slovenia) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Nejc Pecnik.
90:00 +0:30 Attempt blocked. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
89:51 Enzo Pérez (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
89:51 Foul by Ales Mertelj (Slovenia).
87:29 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Slovenia. Ivan Firer replaces Milivoje Novakovic.

87:11 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Slovenia. Gregor Balazic replaces Bostjan Cesar.

84:37 Enzo Pérez (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
84:37 Foul by Ales Mertelj (Slovenia).
83:05 Attempt missed. Ángel Di María (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
81:01 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Slovenia. Ales Mertelj replaces Dalibor Stevanovic because of an injury.

81:00 Delay over. They are ready to continue.
80:22 Delay in match Dalibor Stevanovic (Slovenia) because of an injury.
79:45 Booking

Booking Fernando Gago (Argentina) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

79:39 Foul by Fernando Gago (Argentina).
79:39 Dalibor Stevanovic (Slovenia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.